Friday, September 18, 2009

Sonata Arctica @ The Galaxy,












(I don't even know why I posed like this. It wurz spontaneouz pose. IZ MAH GHEYZ FACE POSE. JA.)

(I thought this was the most hilarious picture ever. The last shot I took of the night of the performance happened to be the 666th picture on the phone. SONATA ARCTICA IS NO WHERE NEAR IN HAVING RELATIONS WITH SUCH THINGS AS 666. LOLOLOL)


((Warning this might contain some fangirly sentiments. I WARNED YOU, ALL.))
(((I wish I had a better camera to capture these photos. I used a cellphone to capture all of these. Except for the tickets and the picture of myself that I took today wearing the shirt.)))

I finally found the set list of last night's show on Sonata Arctica's myspace where someone had commented about it. DAMN, I REALLY NEEDED. I am so lucky to have found it. Since I couldn't find it on any site.

Set List
Paid in Full
Black Sheep
Caleb
The Last Amazing Grays
Full Moon
Replica
It Won't Fade
As if the World Wasn't Ending (World Premiere)
Flag in the Ground
White Pearl, Black Oceans...
Last Drop Falls
The Cage
---Encore---
We Will Rock You (Queens' Cover excerpt)
In the Black And White
Don't Say a Word
Vodka Singalong

I felt so ashamed, I wasn't familar with 5 songs that they sang last night. Caleb, The Last Amazing Grays, It Won't Fade, As if the World Wasn't Ending *no one knew this song, it was the "World Premier" when they played it last night (so I guess this doesn't count)*, White Pearl, Black Oceans.

First thing I did when I walked into the venue I bought a shirt. I only had a white tank top on and was planning on buying a shirt so I could wear over it.

Aftewards Ngoc and I walked towards the stage area. We went down there and I felt so freaking intimidated. METALHEADS EVERYWHERE. NEVER HAD I EVER FELT SO INTIMIDATED AND SELF CONSCIOUS IN MY WHOLE LIFE. So afraid of being stared at and judged. So Ngoc and I just hung around and talked among ourselves. I really wanted to ask some people what their favorite song was. But I was just way to self-conscious and shy to do so. Sigh.

The opening band was Ellerman and my old guitar teacher Mark was in that band. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY GOT TO BE ONE OF THE OPENING BANDS FOR SONATA ARCTICA. THOSE LUCKY BASTARDS. Then it was Exile and then came up Black Horizon.

Atfirst Ngoc and I started out in the back during Ellerman and then as soon as people started moshing around while Exile was playing it was easier to slowly inch up towards the front. We were in the middle now.

People are actually really nice and considerate over at this show. You would never expect it from them but yes, SURPRISE SURPRISE never judge a book by it's covers. Srsly. This one guy accidentally slightly stepped on my foot and even had the consideration to tap me on the shoulder and ask if he stepped on me and apologized to me.

Also, while I occasionally turn around to see how the moshers were doing, I saw two kids that fell onto the ground and then this other dude picked both of them back up, and then they happily continue on with their little moshing ritual. Such hospitality.

Another act that really really moved me was that this woman around her 50's or perhaps maybe even 60's. She let us go all the way up in the front because she saw that we were small little azn girlz that seemed to be having a hard time going up towards the stage. I was so moved by it, she looked so sweet and she was always smiling. She was freaking BRUTAL and STRONG too! While we were all being pushed from the moshers that fell or got pushed into the mosh pit, she held out her arms to protect us from the incoming moshers. ;__; I really wanted to give her a big hug. She was one of the nicest and sweetest stranger I had ever met. She was like our POWERMETAL MAMA. *_* So the opening bands were playing for the longest time and it seemed like forever.

It was around 11 or something when Sonata Arctica's setup was finally finished. The lead singer of Ellerman joined into the audience crowd also. He was up front were Ngoc and I was situated and he saw that I was short so he stood in a position where he didn't block my view. Although, I guess he felt guilty or something because he turned around and I just smiled (because what else am I suppose to do if someone is looking right at me!?!) and he asked if he was blocking my view. I answered with a "ehehehe not really! ^^;" But I guess he felt bad and he asked again,

"You want to be up front right?"
"Yeah! :o"
"Okay then! *moves me towards the front*"
"*shock* Are you sure?!?"
"Mhm"
"*stares in awe at the stage* I'm so close........ *__* *turns around* Thank You!"
"You're welcome"

After a bit he soon left the crowd to go somewhere.

But seriously, the amount of consideration and hospitality of almost everyone at the show was just.. wow. At normal concerts/shows people are usually fighting for the front of the stage and if you were stepped on or jabbed they wouldn't even give 2 flying craps. ;__; But this was such genuine kindness. I MET SO MANY NICE STRANGERS TODAY. I AM STILL IN DISBELIEF.

Sonata Arctica finally came on and everyone was cheering their loudest and giving them the "horns" [ \m/ ]. When they opened up with Paid in Full, I WAS JUST SO FREAKING EXCITED. IT WAS MY MOST FAVORITE SONG OF THEIR'S AT THE MOMENT. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this song. I can totally understand and empathize the lyrics of Paid in Full. I sang MY HEART OUT. There was a time where the line "it's hard for me to love myself right now" came up and Tony brought the mic right up to my area (I DONT WANT TO BE SELF CENTERED thinking that the whole world revolve around me) I FREAKING SANG OUT THE LYRICS AS LOUD AS I CAN and I swear to God he pointed towards me and nodded in approval. *__* HAHAHAA just imagine a smalall Asian little girl bouncing up and down in a crowd of tall metalheads singing (more like yelling) out the lyrics.

The second memorable song of the night was "FULLMOON". This was the song that made got me into them and into powermetal. I WAS SO FUCKING HAPPY. YOU GUYS' DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND. I FREAKING LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH. Again, full on singing along to this song. It's the best song for the audience to sing along to, Tony would put his mic towards the crowd and the crowd would sing (yell) back "RUN AWAY, RUN AWAY, RUN AWAY" whenever the chorus part for it came up.

LOL Ngoc told me in the end that she didn't know how I was able to bounce around so much and how I was able to pump my arms in the air for so long. D: I remember the first time I went to a show.... it was Dir en grey. I was in 8th grade I believe... My arms were aching so much from all of the into-the-air arm pumping.

Anyways, the third memorable song is "Last Drop Falls". It is one of those melancholic soft heartbroken songs. It's a very sad song, but nonetheless, beautifully sung.

They ended the set with the fourth memorable song of the night, "CAGE" which is also ONE OF MY FREAKING FAVORITES. It got me bouncing up and down.

After the Cage they went to the back. Making it seem like they were going to end.

But then tehehehehe we chanted and cheered for an "one more song" and "sonata" for like what seems like 10 - 15 minutes. WE NEED OUR ENCORE. And then Tony finally comes out to greet us!

It was hilarious, I wish I was a person with great influence and fans. Then I can control and make my audience do WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT. Like... pointing at one section of the crowd, commanding them to imitate the sound of the snares of the drums. While pointing at another section to imitate the sound of the bass drums. And then making the last section imitate the sounds of the toms of the drums. Tony seemed like he was gaining so much pleasure from all of this. Turning the audience into his personal drum set. IT WAS SO HILARIOUS.

Sound Key: "Bam"=Toms "Boom"=Bass Drums "Sss"=Snares

After Tony had his time toying around with the audience, the band slowly emerged out and they began playing "We Will Rock You". I LOVED IT. Best cover to perform and have the audience join you into it's catchy and infamous verses.

"Don't Say a Word" is the fifth memorable song. It's a speedy and upbeat song. I'm bouncing, but sadly I have do not know the lyrics to this song. But THAT'S OKAY. That doesn't mean I don't like the song. Although I wish I did. GREAT CHORUS to sing along to.

And then dun dun dun. There famous little song/chant that they always end shows with. IT IS EXTREMELY CATCHY. ANYBODY can easily pick up this song even if they didn't even know who Sonata Arctica was. Since it is...only 5 words.

"VODKA, WE NEED SOME VODKA.
WE NEED SOME VODKA.
WE NEED SOME VOOOOOOODDDDDDKA."

I personally am not an alcohol enthusiast.
But this little mini signature chant of Sonata Arctica's is just so damned catchy.

It was a song that brought every single person in the audience together.
The greatest way to end it all.

They then, came together arms across each other's shoulders and giving us a synchronized bow.

End of show.

I felt like I was going to like pass out from all of the energy I had used up. It was really hot and I my face was somewhat drenched in sweat and I was running on almost no energy because of the lack of food.
The only thing I ate all day was Honey Bunches for breakfast and then for lunch I ate some chips and a bit of my poki bowl from Sango.

But that's okay.
THIS WHOLE SHOW WAS WORTH IT.


Before entering the door, we had to purchase 2 tickets for drinks that totaled a whopping $10.
$5 for each drink. Talk about overpriced. But yes, that is one of the ways for the venue to make their money. But ohhhhhh my goodness. After the show ended, I walked towards the bar to get myself my well deserved super cold bottled water.

The icy water washed out my mouth with such ECSTASY.
IT TASTED SO FREAKING DELICIOUS. I LOVE SUPER COLD WATER.

I was definitely dehydrated.

So we walked out to the car and sat in the parking lot leaning against the car and just resting a bit. I just couldn't get over how amazing the whole performance was.

I feel so fortunate to have been right up in the front row to watch Sonata Arctica.
Thank you everyone who has helped me got all the way up there.


Hands down, this was the most amazing show I had ever seen.
The most beautiful live performance ever.
I dare say, they sound even BETTER live.

SONATA ARCTICA, YOU WILL COME BACK SOON.

P.S: Oh yeah, this whole show I think has made a really huge impact on me mentally. In the very begining before Sonata Arctica started to play, I was feeling extremely self concious of myself. But right when they got up there, I just threw all of my self consciousness away and DID NOT GIVE A FUCK what people thought of me. I went all out. And now, today, I noticed an MAJOR change in my behavior and confidence. I'm not as self-conscious anymore. I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY. This was definitely something I did not expect to come out of attending Sonata Arctica's show. This whole experience is something I would never forget.

~DT

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